Shocking Video: 5-Year-Old Boy Snatched Off The Street In Brazen Kidnapping Attempt In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A child was snatched from his mother on the streets of Queens.
One man has been arrested after the frightening attempted kidnapping was captured on surveillance cameras.
There's no other way to describe it than as a parent's worst nightmare, DeAngelis reported. The mother was walking on Hillside Avenue at 8 p.m Thursday in Richmond Hill with her kids when the suspects swooped in.
Shocking surveillance video shows the man getting out of a parked car, running toward the family, and snatching the boy off the street and put him in the car.
His mother and her other kids rushed to the car trying to get in, but it was it was locked.
"Oh my God, as a mom, oh my God. It's quick. And say, oh my God, my kids, please," said Dolores Diaz.
Diaz described the moments her motherly instincts kicked in.
"When my kid stand up in the window, I take him out," she said.
Watch Jenna DeAngelis' report --
Video shows her yank 5-year-old Jacob out of the car, which then speeds away, nearly hitting someone. Police say the car continued southbound on Hillside Avenue then westbound on Jamaica Avenue.
"The people coming, and because I'm screaming, the people coming, and they help me," Diaz said. "One lady come and called the police."
Diaz says the man and passenger in the car - both suspects - are strangers who said nothing to her.
The owners of a nearby store recognized one suspect wearing a white shirt, saying he stopped in earlier.
"Last night, he comes in one time, buy beer, Budweisers," said Kenny Patel.
"Very scary," said Gia Patel.
The video, circulating around the neighborhood, has people in shock.
"It's a pretty safe neighborhood. I see kids on my block all the time. I've never seen anything like that happen before. It's kind of scary," said resident Orlando Reyes.
"That's terrible thing," one person said.
"Very dangerous," another person said.
"Have you ever heard of anything like this happening here?" CBS2's Alice Gainer asked.
"No," they said.
As for the Diaz family, the shock hasn't quite worn off.
"What I watch it, oh my God, really? Me?" Diaz said.
But she's just grateful to have her children home safe.
"Today, I feel good, thanks God. I feel good," she said.
Not only is the little boy home, thankfully he wasn't hurt.
Late Friday, police said that 24-year-old James McGonagle, of Queens, was arrested in connection to the incident.
McGonagle has been charged with attempted kidnapping, reckless endangerment and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17.
Police are still searching for the second suspect.
Police believe the two suspects may be father and son. They say McGonagle is currently in a local hospital undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.
It's still unclear why they tried to kidnap the boy.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
CBS2's Alice Gainer contributed to this report.
